The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[PAchickenlover]

I would so rather have your weather!!!!! So not liking the cold and what is coming our way, AGAIN....

We'll be getting it in a few days. I'm a Georgia girl born and bred and my blood is too thin for this! Anything below 45 and I'm pretty sure I'm dying. Lol.

Pretty sure, you aren't going to get 6" + of snow in the next two days in Georgia... So yeah, can I come live with you guys down there! Sick of this weather! most of us want to do this!!

 

[ronott1]

I have decided to closet my brinsea mini for hatches . Here is a picture if me crying and whining about cleaning the fluf out of the fan again .

But the main reason for closeting it is I can't regulate the humidity in the wet season like I like. Too small. All my egtopsies show "died in lockdown " fully developed and so I think the lack of oxygen whole trying to control the humidity spikes caused suffocation . My replacement bater will be here in the morning plenty of time to regulate hatching humidity I hope!

I do not hatch in my Brinsea. I hatch in one of the Gnesis 1588 incubators.

 

[abmaddox1981]

Pretty sure, you aren't going to get 6" + of snow in the next two days in Georgia... So yeah, can I come live with you guys down there! Sick of this weather! most of us want to do this!!

Lol! Come on down!

 

[ronott1]

Those temps work great for forced air, but if you run like that in a still air you better be prepared to wait an extra week for chicks & be lucky to get 25% hatch rate. You have to run higher during incubation in a still air. You can drop to 100°F for lockdown & hatch if you want, but I really haven't noticed a difference there except with ducks & turkeys. Since they take longer to hatch & need higher humidity during hatch they are more affected by the lower O2 levels. I only raise humidity to 40-50% to hatch quail & chicks. I go 60-70% for ducks & turkeys. I dry hatch & run humidity as low as possible until lockdown. In winter, I had to add water when we had forced air heat, but not with electric baseboards. No water in summer unless it was extremely hot & dry. As long as humidity stays above 20% for chicks & quail & 30% for turkeys & ducks I don't add water. I really don't monitor humidity that closely either. Just check air cells at 7 days & 14 days & adjust accordingly...but I've hatched thousands of eggs (all in still air) & have had a lot of time to twaek the process for my set up. What works for my set up will not work for everyone & can be disaster for some. We all have to learn what works best for us through a series of trial & errors. Some find success quickly & others seem to take forever.

I am hatching in a Genesis 1588. Why would thet hatch late if I drop the temps a degree during the last two days? They are fully developed.

This hatch was classic. The first chick hatched at 2:30 in the morning and the last one hatched at 24 hours later. All on day 21. Incubation was on time and hatching was the normal amount of time.

It is good to know about differences between the types of incubators. What ever works for your incubator, drop the temps a degree at lockdown and see what happens.

 

[PAchickenlover]

Pretty sure, you aren't going to get 6" + of snow in the next two days in Georgia... So yeah, can I come live with you guys down there! Sick of this weather! most of us want to do this!!

Lol! Come on down!

Thanks, getting in car.... Lol

 

[PAchickenlover]

I am hatching in a Genesis 1588. Why would thet hatch late if I drop the temps a degree during the last two days? They are fully developed.

This hatch was classic. The first chick hatched at 2:30 in the morning and the last one hatched at 24 hours later. All on day 21. Incubation was on time and hatching was the normal amount of time.

It is good to know about differences between the types of incubators. What ever works for your incubator, drop the temps a degree at lockdown and see what happens.

So I just changed my still air in to a forced air.. Think I have it at the right temp around 99. Is this where you would have it?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: I wonder if perhaps you should put the probe into a little plastic container, like a salad dressing size or close to egg size of water or oil not sure what is best to use, I use water, and seal it with tape or something to get somewhat internal temp readings. just a suggestion as I am not sure how still air works, like I said I hate them and refuse to attempt it again.... I would install a fan in it for best results

 

[ronott1]

So I just changed my still air in to a forced air.. Think I have it at the right temp around 99. Is this where you would have it?

For the first18 days I incubate at 100 and then go to 98 at lock down. I incubate at 35% humidity and hatch at 65 to 70% humidity.

99 is withing safe incubation limits.

One caveat is to make sure your thermometer is reading correctly and that it reads in tenths.

 

[uphilljill]

chicken spider?

 

[MontanaDolphin]

chicken spider?

Hahahaha how funny!!!